Transport and Trucking News

Climbing on and off trucks, trailers, and other equipment with no railing or other fall protection poses a significant risk to safety. While injuries do not occur often, the consequences can be severe. Please use the following steps when climbing on and off equipment with no fall protection:

Use three points of contact.

When climbing on a truck or trailer, turn the engine off, put the key in your pocket, and set the parking brake(s).

Ensure that the climbing surface is stable, not in motion, and capable of supporting your weight.

Confirm there are no hazards such as weather, debris, uneven/slippery surfaces, and traffic that could pose a threat to you. If you must climb on the equipment in these conditions, work cautiously, carefully, and ask for assistance whenever possible.

Do not jump off of any equipment.

Use proper ladders or steps if available; if not, reassess if it is safe to climb.

Stay as far away from the edge(s) of the equipment as possible.

Avoid carrying tarps and other heavy or difficult objects while working on trailers and surfaces above 4 ft. Instead place objects in position from the ground.

The trucking industry rolled forward and up this past month by increasing its February payrolls. The Department of Labor (DOL) reported on March 10th that for-hire trucking added 10,600 jobs, and overall payrolls increased by 235,000. This increase follows a rise in January as the overall unemployment rate fell to 4.7%, according to Bloomberg News.

The transportation and warehousing sector, which includes trucking, added 8,800 positions. The trucking industry in particular is expecting to benefit from an increase in online sales and retail in 2017. Unlike the overall gross domestic product growth (GDP), which decreases from imports, the trucking industry benefits from both imports and exports of goods. And for 2017, imports and overall Truckable Economic Activity (TEA) are off to a strong start.

Ryan Sweet, an economist at Moody’s Analytics Inc., claims the economy is “getting closer and closer to full employment.” He also believes with inflation accelerating, growth in wages will be even stronger in the future. The boost in payrolls may be attributed to the mild weather thus far, as well as the President’s first full month in office. Since President Trump’s time in office, Americans’ confidence in the economy has reached the highest point in a decade, and shows confidence in the buying climate. In addition to economic confidence, the comfort index showed that household spending may be on the rebound, after a slow start to 2017. As the transportation and freight industry moves forward, it is a great time to be a driver, supplying the demand of transportation.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a report concerning the 34-hour restart rule, ending a four year period of uncertainty. The controversy began in 2013 when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued the following two controversial restart requirements for hours-of-service: the 34-hour restart must include two 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. periods, and limiting the use of restart is to once every 168 hours.

In 2014, as part of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, Congress suspended these two requirements and directed the FMCSA to conduct a study on the impact of the rules. The study was completed in 2015, but not released to the public. However, the DOT’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) wrote a letter to Congress last week stating, “The DOT’s study met the act’s requirements. We also concur with the Department’s conclusion that the study did not explicitly identify a net benefit from the use of the two suspended provisions on driver operations, safety, fatigue, and health.” In summary, the two controversial requirements did not improve the safety of those who complied over those who did not. Now that the OIG has finished reviewing the study, the DOT must review and transmit the report to Congress, they are in the final stages of reviewing now.

There were over 220 drivers that contributed to the study with over 3,000 duty cycles, with data captured using electronic logging devices (ELDs). The results of the study come as a relief to the American Trucking Association (ATA) and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) who have fought against the restrictions since 2013. On the contrary, The Teamsters union is strongly against the conclusion, and believes the regulation would help prevent accidents and reassure proper rest. Although drivers have been operating under less restrictive regulations since 2014, but the FMCSA will need to issue a notice to permanently remove the rules.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued new guidance last week on the use of older logging devices and their compliance extension date. Although they are out of compliance, carriers that use older devices will have two extra years to comply with the ELD mandate, pushing their date to December 2019. This rule is part of the ELD mandate’s “grandfather” clause which has been included in the mandate since it was published in December 2015.

Automatic Onboard Recording Devices (AOBRDs) can be transferred to a new truck and remain compliant as long as new AOBRDs are not purchased for new vehicles in a fleet after December 2017. ELDs and AOBRDs are different in a few ways. For example, AOBRDs aren’t required to automatically record location or operate with a truck’s engine, whereas ELDs are synchronized with the engines’ electronic control module for data. The shift to use ELDs will mostly be a change in software updates not a change for end users.

In addition to this grandfather clause, the FMCSA said that carriers using non-compliant devices after the December 2019 cutoff date will have eight days to replace the device with a compliant device. There is a registry list of certified devices provided by the agency for carriers to choose from. However, the ELD suppliers on this list will not be required to notify carriers if their device is removed from it.

More information can be found on the ELD agency’s FAQ section on its website.

As winter continues its run across much of the country, the extra caution in and out of the truck is needed. Slips, trips, and falls cause many nonfatal injuries every year among truck drivers.

Remaining aware of the conditions and taking your time can make a big difference in remaining safe. Here are a few tips to prevent injuries this winter:

When entering or exiting the vehicles, use the vehicle for support.

When you see streets and sidewalks cleared of snow and ice, still use caution and lookout for “black ice”. Dew, fog, or water vapor can freeze on cold surfaces and form an invisible thin layer of ice.

When walking on steps, always use the hand railings and plant your feet firmly on each step.

When walking on an icy or snow-covered walkway, take short steps and walk at a slow pace so you can react quickly to change in traction. Bend your knees slightly and walk slowly to increase traction and reduce risk of falling.

When entering a building, remove as much snow and water from your footwear as possible to prevent wet, slippery conditions indoors.

When exiting the vehicle, use 3 points of contact: two feet and one hand, or two hands and one foot.

Black History Month is celebrated every February to recognize the achievements of African Americans, and their roles in U.S. history. The celebration started in 1926 as Negro History Week by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), has been honored since 1976 by U.S. Presidents, and is even celebrated in other countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom. African American’s have been recognized for many achievements in various industries. Centerline would like to acknowledge key African American’s and their impact on the transportation industry.

Charles Richard Patterson
Patterson was the founder of C.R. Patterson & Sons, a carriage building firm and first African-American owned automobile manufacturer. He was born into slavery in 1833, escaped, and settled in Ohio. After working as a blacksmith he bought out a business partnership and reorganized the company. Charles Richard Patterson passed away in 1910 leaving the company to his son. Once the era of automobiles started, Patterson’s son changed gears and manufactured the first Patterson-Greenfield car in 1915.

Frederick McKinley Jones
If you have ever drove a refrigeration truck, you are doing so because of Frederick McKinley Jones. Although he patented more than 60 inventions in his lifetime, 40 of them were in the field of refrigeration. His most infamous invention was the automatic refrigeration system for long haul trucks and railroad cars. Before this invention the method was to load them with ice. Frederick McKinley Jones received the national Medal of Technology in 1991, the first African American inventor to ever receive such an honor.

Garrett MorganGarrett Morgan was the inventor of a tool that we all use every single day, and perhaps take for granted: the three-position traffic signal, also known as a stoplight. Morgan patented the item in 1923; it was not the first traffic signal, but was the first to have the middle “warning” position. His desire to make a three-position traffic signal stemmed from witnessing a bad accident at a regulated busy corner, that is when he realized carriages and automobiles needed more time between “stop” and “go”. He eventually sold the rights to the invention to General Electric for $40,000.

Lois Cooper
Lois Cooper began working as an Under Engineering Aide in 1953 with the Division of Highways. She was the first African American woman to be hired in the Engineering Department at the Division of Highways - currently CALTRANS, the California Department of Transportation. She worked on several major projects including the I-105 Century Freeway, the San Diego Freeway, the Long Beach Freeway, the San Gabriel River Freeway, and the Riverside Freeway. In addition to her career accomplishments, she participated in a program visiting schools to talk to students about considering engineering as a profession, and advocated for math and science in schools. Thanks to Lois Cooper the future of transportation has been paved for the next generation.

Technology in the trucking industry continues to advance with the rest of the world; now revealing in-cab camera and video systems with the ability to use “machine vision” to improve safety. This technology enhances safety measures by tracking lane markings, detecting other drivers, detecting travel time compared to traffic, and recognizing if a driver fails to stop at a stop sign or run a red light. The cameras can “see” the truck’s surroundings. These systems also work with other sources, such as accelerometers and the engine’s control unit, for data with the hope of alerting drivers when dangerous situations arise, such as drowsy driving.

Lytx Inc. is a supplier of one video-based program, and offers the machine vision service, ActiveVision, as an enhanced service. The technology can track the environment both inside and outside the cab with data points. If repeated safety signs happen, such as swerving repeatedly in a period of time, the driver will be alerted via in-cab audio and visual alerts.

Netradyne is another company that has joined the video system market with its Driver-i program. Their core technologies are based on artificial intelligence and deep learning rather than human review, distinguishing them from the competition. Whereas other programs gather video that is sent to a human review center and then to the fleets once reviewed, the Driver-I gathers video and does all the computation and sends the information to the fleet manager within minutes. The artificial intelligence allows for quicker feedback to customers.

The overall goal of this new “machine vision” technology is to improve driver safety. Many of the programs are focused on fatigue management to help employers and drivers create plans to combat undue risk. The hope is to also identify and document good driving behavior. This gives companies the opportunity to recognize those drivers and create best practices.

The 2017-2018 American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) ‘America’s Road Team’ has been chosen. This year’s list features 19 men and one woman and that woman is Rhonda Hartman. Hartman is the 16th female driver that has been selected since the team’s inception in 1986. The 20 team members are selected among a pool of 2,200 applicants after many interviews and recommendations.

Hartman will have the honor of serving as a trucking industry ambassador, while remaining a full time trucker. She will tour North America in ATA’s Interstate One Image Truck over the next two years for a national public outreach program. This program focuses on sharing the message of safety, essentiality, sustainability, and professionalism in the industry.

Hartman joined the industry after growing up driving heavy equipment on farms in Iowa. Hartman has been trucking for 34 years now, estimating 2.7 million accident-free miles. Her colleagues say she is a great role model.

She hopes that her involvement will encourage more women to consider trucking as a career choice. The Women in Trucking (WIT) organization also has its own Image Teamthat serve as trucking ambassadors but would like to see more women on the ATA team. Currently, it is estimated that female drivers account for 5.1 percent of the more than 3.5 million truckers on the road.

At Centerline your safety behind the wheel is our #1 priority. Safety is not only associated with driving, but with all processes while on the job. What if you could predict an event is about to take place and be one step ahead as it happens? This is possible with regularly practicing situational awareness in your work environment.

Situational awareness simply means paying attention to your surroundings to increase your response time and safely handle unexpected events. Is there something that could fall on you? Is the wind going to cause the trailer doors to slam? Is there anything that is broken or needs repair? The key steps to situational awareness are to slow down, look around, then act.

The rule concerning minimum training requirements for entry-level Commercial Vehicle Operators has been delayed to March 21, 2017. The delay was made to comply with Trump’s executive order to halt federal rules published but not yet effective.

The delay will postpone the Training Requirements by 60 days, but could be delayed further pending White House review. The February 7, 2020 compliance date will not be delayed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) even with the postponement of the rule’s implementation.

The new rule has the following standards for any drivers receiving their CDL on or after the compliance date:
• A core classroom curriculum, no minimum time requirement currently
• Behind-the-wheel training, no minimum time requirement currently
• Different standards for Class A and Class B CDL trainees
• Requirements for endorsements such as hazmat and passenger

In addition to these standards the rule will establish a registry of FMCSA-approved trainers that new truck drivers must receive their training from. The training will be deemed complete when “all elements of the curricula [are] proficiently demonstrated while the driver-trainee has actual control of the power unit during a driving lesson,” the rule states. Many organizations, such as the Owner-Operated Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) and American Trucking Associations (ATA), support the entry-level driver training rule as it will create more efficient drivers, lead to fewer crashes, and lower maintenance and repair costs.

The truck driving community is constantly trying to find ways to protect their most valuable commodity—the driver. As with many sedentary occupations, truck driving can lead to obesity and high risk for other health conditions. Whether a driver spends 8 hours behind the wheel or 12, they can improve their regiment with both diet and exercise all while on the job.

Siphiwe Baleka, a swimming champion turned truck driver, has made drivers’ health his priority by speaking to new recruits on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle in this occupation. His method incorporates short bursts of exercise to boost metabolism, with diet changes such as cutting carbs and increasing protein intake.

DO enjoy comfort foods, but be aware of your overall diet – make sure your comfort foods are in the right portions and coupled with healthier options.

DO realize small changes make a difference – instead of grabbing macaroni and cheese, grab low sodium soup and a salad. Most restaurants (even the fast food ones) have healthier items on the menu to save you the calories.

DOexercise activities that also decrease stress to improve mental health– if you don’t like running or walking, find an alternative method to get your heart rate up and blood pumping. All you need is at least 15 minutes a day. Some simple tools to store in your truck or bag are a jump rope, resistance bands, and/or exercise mat.

DO eat after working out, and keep eating – to build muscle and feed your metabolism.

DO keep a log – and review at the end of the week to see where you can improve. You can even use an app to help with logging or planning (such as Baleka’s app or these other free options).

DON’T settle for convenience – take the extra step to grab foods that aren’t prepackaged. Keep healthy snacks on hand in your truck, so only the good foods are at reach.

The OOIDA has been battling the ELD mandate since March 2016. The association’s primary argument is that the rule violates truckers’ Fourth Amendment rights to privacy.

So what does this mean for drivers?

All truck drivers outside of the exempt category will be required to use ELDs to track duty status, discontinuing the use of paper logs. They will have to comply by the 2017 deadline.

Complying means one of three things: carriers and drivers currently using automatic onboard recording devices may continue using AOBRDs through December of 2019, switch to ELDs, or attempt to become exempt to the rule.

With many drivers reluctant to the change, some are considering buying older trucks to be exempt from the new technology. A rule is in place that states pre-2000 model-year trucks will be exempt from having to use ELDs. For those drivers that own pre-2000 model trucks, some expect demand and price to rise if they put their truck up for sale. In a survey conducted for readers by Overdrive, 39% said they are, or will be in the market for a pre-2000 truck to avoid ELDs.

On January 11th, Elaine Chao had her first Senate confirmation hearing. For 3.5 hours, senators from both sides of the floor questioned Chao on how she would carry out President-elect Donald Trump's infrastructure plans. Though she did not share much trucking specific insight, it is clear that she is well regarded by congress.

Chao is not new to high profile positions in government. She has experience in the cabinet, having served as George W. Bush's secretary of labor for both terms. Due to her experience and connections in Washington, Commerce Chairman John Thune believes she's the "idea candidate" to lead the DOT for the next four years.

During her hearing, Chao advocated for increased investment by the private sector in public infrasturcutre. She also stated that she is willing to implement any practical solution for funding infrastructure spending - public, private, or mixed. This will be necessary to carry out Trump's trillion dollar infrastructure plan, a plan which Chao did not share much details about.

On infrastructure, Chao believes strongly that the nation's prosperity is jeopardized by "infrastructure in need of repair, the specter of rising highway fatalities, growing congestion, and by a failure to keep pace with emerging technologies."

On regulations, Chao stated that she believed federal rules should be rooted in analysis and data built around sound science. Chao also believes that risk-based analysis will prevent accidents before they happen, and suggests considering both the costs and benefits of new rules and regulations.

With that being said, Chao acknowledged that safety should remain and will remain the top priority of the DOT if her nomination is confirmed.
Image Source:NPR

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that trucking closed out 2016 with a new record high number of jobs. This in part was due to a strong finish to the year.

For six months, the trucking industry has continued to improve. The greatest signal that the trucking industry is taking a turn for the better is the fact that the 1,400 new jobs created in December bring the industry job count to a new record high. The December gain puts for-hire trucking jobs at 1.4742 million. That is 19.5% more than the number of jobs reported in 2010, which was the low point of the economic downturn, and is 10,400 more jobs than the industry had in December of 2015.

The U.S. added 156,000 jobs in December overall. Though this number was below what economists expected, the unemployment rate did improve to 4.7%. Though only a slight improvement from November of 2016, December marks the lowest rate of unemployment since August of 2007.

After six months of success, and closing out the year on an all-time high, the trucking industry has a lot to look forward to in 2017.

When President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office as the 45th President of the United States he will begin to pursue reducing the federal regulation of American business.

Trump said he will ask department leaders to "submit a list of every wasteful and unnecessary regulation which kills jobs, and which does not improve public safety, and eliminate them." Another main avenue for regulatory rollbacks is the Congressional Review Act (CRA). This oversight tool allows executive rules to be overturned if the rule was enacted within 60 "legislative days." This covers rules which were enacted by a federal agency going back to the end of May 2016.

The seven trucking rules that experts say to watch are:

Hours of service: President Obama signed a Continuing Resolution that fixed a glitch in previous legislation that threatened use of a 34-hour restart as part of the hours of service rule.

Electronic Logging Devices: The FMCSA announced a final rule in December that mandates the use of electronic logging devices for all trucks of model-year 2000 or newer used in interstate commerce. This rule was mandated under a GOP house majority, and is therefore highly improbable that the new Congress will roll it back.

GHG Phase 2: The Phase 2 Greenhouse Gas/Fuel Efficiency sets CO2 limits for trucks, tractors, and trailers. It sets separate engine fuel-efficiency standards for each category of commercial vehicle, and for the first time, also regulate trailers.

Meal/Rest Break Exemptions: Lobbyists will seek legislative provisions that would prevent individual states from enacting their own meal and rest break rules for CDL drivers. This effort failed three times in 2016.

Sanitary Food Transportation: A final rule issued by the Food and Drug Administration will require motor carriers that haul human and animal food to use certain sanitary practices. Carriers will need to constantly monitor temperatures and humidity levels inside reefer and dry trailers and vans when hauling certain items for consumption.

Compliance Safety Accountability: The FMCSA announced a set of proposed changes to the CSA. These changes would increase the minimum number of crashes needed for determining the score a carrier receives in the Crash Indicator BASIC.

Speed Limiters: ​In August, a joint rule was proposed that would require heavy-duty vehicles to be equipped with speed-limiting devices.

Only time will tell if these rules come into effect or change direction in 2017.

The American Trucking Associations (ATA), has partnered with Healthy Fleet to run the 10 Pound Challenge. For 59 days, from New Year’s Day until the end of February, participants will form healthy eating habits and activity plans to reach their weight and health goals.

Healthy Fleet, which was created in 2013, aims to help motivate, educate and support drivers in their efforts to achieve a healthier lifestyle while on the road. This is often difficult for truck drivers, who face unique health challenges due to their work. Sitting for extended periods of time and failing to have access to nutritious foods make reaching health and fitness goals a challenge.

For this challenge, the ATA has selected five drivers to serve as America’s Road Team Captains. They are:

Allen Boyd, Walmart Transportation

Charlie Demchock, Walmart Transportation

John Lex, Walmart Transportation

John McCown, UPS Freight

Russ Simpson, Holland

These captains will have access to Healthy Fleet’s nutritionists and coaches, who will provide them with valuable information and feedback. This feedback will help the captains change their routines for lasting results.

America’s Road Team Captain John Lex is excited for the challenge, stating it is an opportunity “for truck drivers throughout North America to take a closer look at their daily routines and build healthier habits.”

To help the 5 participants reach their goals, the Road Team has asked the trucking community to cheer them on. Make sure to follow America’s Road Team’s official Facebook and Twitter accounts for challenge updates, and get inspired to make changes to your routine as well!

California Highway Patrol (CHiPs) for Kids is a local toy drive in the Los Angeles, Orange County area marking its 28th year. Our driver Victor Marquez has been participating to make the holiday season brighter for kids throughout the county.

In 2011, Victor came up with an idea with his employer, Coastal Pacific Food Distribution (CPFD), and together they would collect toys from other drivers, staff and warehouse workers and take them over to a CHiPs for Kids drop off facility. The lieutenant at the drop off facility told Victor that their trucking company was the first to ever drop off toys at their facility. After this first successful toy drive, a new tradition was started and he’s been doing it ever since. This year, the CHiPs for Kids facility warehouse was burglarized so it was even more important that Victor’s work continued to provide toys to help this charity complete their mission of giving to the underprivileged.

Victor started driving for Centerline 10 years ago, and has been assigned to CPFD account for 17 years. When he was younger, he always knew he was going to be a driver. Victor is a veteran and was stationed at Fort Ord, CA. He was put into transportation and drove flatbed and food trucks. He delivered anything from tank equipment to ammunition to food supplies. It wasn’t until after he completed his service that he decided to get into commercial truck driving, he learned he has a passion for it. His total experience in driving is over 38 years. Victor comes from a loving family who are very supportive of his career even though it causes him to be away from home from time to time. In his spare time, Victor enjoys spending as much time as he can with his family, whether it is going to the river, mountains, or the beach.

Victor’s words of wisdom to future drivers are, “you need to make the best of what you do, it can be hard sometimes, but worth it.”

Congratulations to Victor for all your hard work, Centerline is very lucky to have you!

Klang, who has over 3 million miles of accident-free experience, has been driving professionally since 1980. In her 36 years of driving, Klang has served as a captain on the American Trucking Associations (ATA) America’s Road Team, and currently serves on the WIT Image Team.

On their two day trip, Klang and Darling were able to discuss ELDs, speed limiters, safety techniques, and other everyday concerns. Darling stated that the ride-along was a “fantastic opportunity to obtain first-hand, on-the-road perspective of some of the challenges facing today’s professional drivers.”

WIT CEO Ellen Voie has been allowing regulators and legislators to ride along with professional truck drivers in the association as a way to help them better understand the challenges a driver faces on the road each day, and see it from a female driver’s perspective. Other notable WIT ride-alongs have included Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Congressman Reid Ribble of Wisconsin, and CRASH safety Advocate Ron Wood.

To learn more about the WIT and their programs that help support and encourage women in the trucking industry, visit their website.